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GATLINBURG1 | Greenbrier Realty and Rentals: www.welovegatlinburg.com or 1-800-546-1144Highlights: Reasonable prices and a pleasant, off-the-beaten-path location. Near Bent Creek Golf Course, an 18-hole course designed by Gary Player. Tennis court, three outdoor pools, 24-hour security. Close to two entrances to the national park. Family-owned company in 21st year. Wireless Internet access in most homes.Individual cabins: 68 cabins, with 1 to 11 bedrooms (sleeps 34 people). Many have a bit more acreage and privacy. Ask about streamside cabins.Location: In the Village of Cobbly Nob, a quiet community near Pittman Center and Bent Creek Golf Course off U.S. 321 north of Gatlinburg.Price of one-bedroom: $90-$125. Reservation fee: $33; no hot tub or cleaning fee.

RESORT8 | The Preserve: www.thepreserveresort.com or 1-866-361-8439Highlights: Phenomenal views from the crest of a hill. Luxury décor and amenities. Floor plans that maximize the view with plenteous windows. No cabins blocking your view of the park. Pavilion, wedding chapel, sauna/workout room, community pool, and high-speed Internet access.Resort community: 77 cabins built on a cleared ridgeline facing the national park. Units are built closely with similar floor plans, but they're designed so that you're not looking into your neighbor's window.Location: Pigeon Forge (in the general vicinity of Dollywood)Price of one-bedroom cabin: $164-$299, plus $45 reservation fee and $20 hot tub fee

9 | Starr Crest: www.starrcrestresort.com or 1-866-857-2123Highlights: Huge views of the park from a high mountain perch. Upscale decor and amenities―think interior decorator meets rustic elegant.Resort Community: 180 luxury cabins built closely on a dramatic incline. Roads are a bit steep, and some cabins sit on such a dramatic incline that the foundations appear as big as the cabins themselves. Not for those with a fear of heights. Cabins are closely spaced, but designed so that once you're inside, you won't see your neighbors.Location: Pigeon Forge (near Dollywood)Price of one-bedroom cabin: $129-$299, plus $45 reservation fee, $20 hot tub fee, and $250-$1,000, damage/securit authorization

10 | Brother's Cove (Editor's Choice): www.brotherscove.com or 1-877-276-2683Highlights: Best pool in the Smokies―heated, located on a hillside with spectacular views and ample lounging space. (Don't let its nickname "cement pond" turn you off.) Cabin architecture is decidedly different―each floor plan is unique, but common features include giant windows with postcard views, open spaces with natural light, and interesting touches such as rustic wood spiral staircases.Resort community: Secluded location with 75 cabins on large, private lots. The developer displaced as few trees as possible when building, so the hillside feels natural and wooded, not clear-cut like some other resorts. Amenities include a soccer field, heated pool, pavilion with giant stone fireplace. Cabins have one to five bedrooms.Location: Off Walden's Creek Road, between Pigeon Forge and Wears Valley.Price of one-bedroom cabin: $99-$215, plus $35 reservation fee, $35-$95 cleaning fee (varies by size), and $50 nonrefundable deposit

11 | Butterfly Gap Retreat (Editor's Choice―most unusual): www.butterflygap.com or (865) 984-6021Highlights: An undiscovered gem. Strikingly modern guest houses―you can't really call them cabins―add an unexpected twist to this 900-acre preserve, which borders the scenic Foothills Parkway. Contemporary interiors (a walk-in shower room, a pull-out bed on a screened sleeping porch) feel inviting. A lake, nondenominational chapel, and reception hall (with pivoting walls for indoor/outdoor parties) set this place apart. Note: Children and pets are not permitted.Resort community: Five guest houses tucked in the woods offer plenty of privacy. The owners will bring breakfast to your door―or leave all the fixings for cooking your own. Designed and built by a local family (including two twentysomething sisters who hammered away with carpenters), this is a popular wedding spot. Weekends book in advance, so check availability during the week or in the off-season.Location: On the outskirts of Maryville, about 20 minutes from Townsend. You won't want to drive into town for meals, so bring groceries or make advance arrangements for their on-staff chef to prepare dinner.Price of one-bedroom cabin: $175-$195

14 | Jackson Mountain Homes (Editor's Choice―romantic retreat):www.jacksonmountain.com or 1-800-473-3163Highlights: Wide range of attractive, well-appointed cabins with one to eight bedrooms (sleeps up to 30) that appeals to both couples and big groups. Professional service from a respected company. Emphasis on cleanliness. High decor standards. Some homes with free long distance calling and high-speed internet.Individual cabins: Around 167 scattered throughout Gatlinburg and outside the city limits. Tip: Ask about cabins in Pinnacle Vista, a secluded area off U.S. 321 with spectacular views and spacious lots. In Gatlinburg, Appalachian Lodge is a stunner.Location: Gatlinburg, Cobbly Nob, Pittman Center, Pinnacle Vista, Arts & Crafts Community.Price of one-bedroom cabin: $100-$180, plus $55 reservation fee and $150 credit card hold; no cleaning or hot tub fees